MagnetsLesson 15

What is a magnet?

A magnet is one of nature’s greatest

mysteries. It has a wonderful kind of

power which is almost magical. A magnet can pull things to itself or push things away

from itself.

A magnet can make a nail jump to it and stick to it!

Let’s watch this video

introducing us to magnets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHMSgKKi3jc

A magnet can pull one paper clip to itself, then another, then another. The paper clips will all stack in a long chain as if they were glued

together.

Let’s watch this video of an example of

magnets and paper clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeo119Afwa0

When a magnet is pulling a metal object towards itself we say the

magnet is attracting.

But a magnet doesn’t attract

everything. You can't use a magnet to pick up glass or a rubber ball or a

handkerchief

That is because those objects are not

made of metals that

are attracted to magnets.

Every magnet has a north and south pole. The north pole of a magnet will always attract the

south pole of a magnet. They will pull towards each other.

Similar poles will push away from each. A north pole of a magnet

will push away from another north pole.

Let’s watch a video of magnets pushing away from each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj04A3n_VDM

In your science notebook draw the two forces magnets can create.

Draw an example of each force we discussed today.

Today we learned that magnets can create a force of push or pull without even touching an object.

We learned magnets can attract objects made out of some metals,

such as nails or paper clips.

We also learned that when two like poles are together the magnets will push away from each

other.

In our next lesson we will review all we have learned about forces of motion.

Keep observing the world around you!